The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland
by Jim DeFede
Narrated by Ray Porter
Why Listen to This Audiobook?
While America was watching towers fall, a tiny Canadian town quietly fed, housed, and loved 7,000 strangers — and Ray Porter makes sure you feel every bit of it.
- Great if you want: true stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary, unheroic good
- Listening experience: gentle but emotionally devastating — tissues optional but recommended
- Narration: Porter's warmth perfectly matches Gander's — never sentimental, always earned
- Skip if: you want analysis or geopolitics rather than human-scale storytelling
Listen to The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland on Audible →
About This Audiobook
When U.S. airspace closed on September 11, 2001, thirty-eight international flights found themselves diverted to the tiny airport in Gander, Newfoundland. This remote Canadian town of just over 10,000 residents suddenly faced nearly 7,000 stranded passengers from around the world, transforming an ordinary community into an extraordinary haven of hospitality. Jim DeFede chronicles how Gander's citizens responded to this unprecedented crisis with remarkable generosity, opening their homes, schools, and hearts to confused and frightened travelers who had no idea when they might return home.
Ray Porter's warm, measured narration perfectly captures the spirit of this uplifting true story, allowing listeners to feel the genuine emotion behind each act of kindness. His steady pacing gives weight to both the gravity of the historical moment and the quiet heroism of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Porter's voice carries the maritime cadence of Newfoundland without caricature, honoring the authenticity of these real-life characters. The audio format enhances the intimate, personal nature of these interconnected stories, making listeners feel like they're gathered around a kitchen table hearing firsthand accounts of humanity at its finest.
